The Kill List

Inspector Anjelica Henley #3

by Nadine Matheson

While an innocent man sits behind bars, a serial killer with a gruesome signature has started killing again. And only Anjelica Henley can stop him.

After twenty-five years behind bars, Andrew Kenan has just been exonerated. Newly discovered DNA evidence proves that he was not the cold-blooded serial killer the world thought he was, the one who sewed his victims' eyes shut before burying them alive. Before Kenan can taste freedom, however, he is found dead in his prison cell. And Inspector Anjelica Henley, who worked the original investigation, is left in shock.

Henley never thought she'd have to revisit one of the most horrifying cases of her career. But now, after evading justice for twenty-five years, the true killer is back, and so is their gruesome signature. Can Henley stop them once and for all? Or has the Serial Crimes Unit finally met its match?

Drawing on her experiences as a criminal attorney, and exploring themes of race, class and justice, Nadine Matheson's newest entry in the Anjelica Henley series is her darkest, most adrenaline-fueled mystery yet.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense

464 pages, Hardcover

First published April 2, 2024

About the author

Nadine Matheson lives in London. She began her working life at the BBC and now practices as a criminal defence lawyer. In 2016, she won the City University Crime Writing Competition and has a MA in Creative Writing.

Her crime fiction novel, The Jigsaw Man, was published by HQ in 2021. The Jigsaw Man has been sold in 15 territories to date and will be translated into 15 languages.

Praise For The Jigsaw Man

"Matheson has a keen instinct for keeping the pages turning." New York Times

"This modern and multilayered take on the high-octane thriller keeps the pages turning" Oprah Daily

‘The Jigsaw Man ranks amongst the very best debut thrillers – we’re talking top-ten territory here – I’ve read this past decade… It evokes, vibrantly and indelibly, a world I’ve never even glimpsed, much less entered – neither in literature nor in life… Matheson’s voice is exciting, urgent… and, now more than ever, vital’ A.J. Finn


*Shortlisted for the 2022 Diverse Book Award*
*Shortlisted for the Dead Good Reads Award- 'Cold as Ice Award for most Chilling Read
*A Crime Reads Most Anticipated Book of 2021*
*The Best Crime Novels To Read in 2022 - The Evening Standard


Nadine Matheson is also the host of 'The Conversation Podcast with Nadine Matheson'. Her third novel in the Detective Inspector Henley series, The Kill List, will be released in May 2024.

Nadine Matheson is represented by Oli Munson of A.M. Heath Literary Agents.

www.nadinematheson.com

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Anjelica Henley of the Serial Crime Unit, Metropolitan Police.

‘Let sleeping dogs lie’

Did Andrew Streeter kidnap, rape and murder five people between 1994 and 1995? The case goes to trial in 1996, and he’s found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment, but continues to maintain innocence, claiming a set up. In the present day, Streeter has commissioned, Elias Piper of the Redemption Foundation to look into his case of wrongful conviction. Elias requests an interview with Anjelica as she gives evidence for the prosecution in the original case because she finds one of the victims bodies, indeed, she is a good friend. Not only that, but Anjelica works with DCI Rhimes, one of the original investigating officers, now deceased. The case is taken forward to appeal, is successful, but before he can taste freedom, Streeter is found dead. This is one amongst many shocks that Henley and the team will receive in one of their grittiest and most shocking cases to date. Who is the true killer, the one with a kill list? This becomes incredibly challenging and difficult and will haunt the teams dreams. They face some big questions, not least from 1994/95 versus the present day. Where are the common denominators?

Oh my word, this really is a shocker of a case for the team, it’s very dark, in fact jet black dark, but if you’ve read the previous two books you do know what you’re in for. It’s a fast paced novel which it has to be as there’s an horrific “game” afoot and the police team are several steps behind. It’s an action packed, never a dull moment rollercoaster of a read that really is adrenaline fuelled. Although this is a tough case, as there is a brutal, callous murderer, I like that this very likeable police team have such good camaraderie, there’s excellent banter and they all feel authentic as well as relatable. This helps to alleviate some of the more gory sections of the book. However, I do feel there is way too much on Anjelica’s personal situation, also the difficulties that Detective Ramouter faces at home. This makes the book unnecessarily long.

On the plus side, the case in itself is enough to keep you reading on because you really WANT to know. There’s plenty to keep you intrigued such as internal metropolitan politics and corruption. The writing is clever, for example, I really enjoy the Shakespeare references used in the plot.

Overall, it’s nicely set up for number four, which I for one I’m looking forward to and it should be very revealing. I can’t wait.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Heathers_readss · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Kill List” is the third instalment to the Inspector Anjelica Henley series. This can be read as a stand alone and you will have essentially full understanding for the book, however I recommend reading the previous 2 books first for a deeper understanding of the characters and their relations to one another!

The plot follows Andrew who was arrested and charged with 5 life sentences in 1996 for the brutal murders of 5 teens, despite claiming his innocence the entire time. In present day new DNA exonerates Andrew and proves he was in fact innocent this whole time, but unfortunately he is found dead before he can enjoy his freedom.

Inspector Henley is dreading having to reopen the case that haunts her still to this day, but there is a serial killer out there who needs to be behind bars.

What I liked about it:
I found this thriller to be fast paced with high stakes. Despite the dark themes and nature of the plot I didn’t find anything too graphic, gory or disturbing. There are lots of breadcrumbs spread throughout for the reader to pick up on as they join along the investigative work to find the killer.

Themes: Murder mystery, Race, Class, Justice, Police Procedures, Marital problems.


Thank you to Nadine Matheson, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the EARC!

Publish date: August 6th

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and HQ and the fabulous author Nadine Matheson for an early copy of her book to read.


This is book three,I've read one and two the jigsaw man and the Binding room are fantastic reads.love the characters in this book.Detective inspector Henley on the case of Andrew Streeter who's in prison for many murders including a friend of Henleys it looks like hes coming out of prison due to having cancer...but is he really guilty of the crimes?...Henley investigates shes looking for answers..this is exciting read like the real gritty crime reads and she certainly done that..fantastic writing the ending was a cliff hanger...cant wait to read more of her books.highly recommended a five star review


This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon...

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a real page-turner and another great hit in the series! The plot was engaging, fast-paced, and had me hooked from the start. I loved how the story blended both live and cold-case investigations, which kept me turning the pages to figure out the killer’s identity and whether corruption played a role.

The characters, especially Anjelica and her team, are fantastic! I love their banter and how well they work together. While the killings in this book were a bit less gory than usual, they were still pretty brutal and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Sure, I guessed a couple of things here and there, but it didn’t spoil the fun at all. The suspense was spot-on, and the ending was totally satisfying. Overall, this was another hit that I’ll definitely be recommending, and I can’t wait for the next one!

🚨🚨 TW: Murder, sexual assault, abduction, stalking

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, this was the dark serial killer book that I needed! Book 3 featuring Angelica Henley and her team in the SCU in London and they just keep raising the bar. As with the previous 2 books, this killer is sadistic and cruel in his methods and the team have their work cut out for them.

For 25 years, Andrew Streeter has been behind bars for multiple murders, but has always maintained that he is innocent. And now he is appealing his case and has a good chance to winning. They are now claiming police corruption as well. Henley and the team are tasked with finding out who the real killer is, as well as investigating one of their own, Angelica’s for,er boss and mentor. On top of all that, Henley was a witness in the original case, with her best friend being one of the victims.

So much going on all the time, this a page turner from start to finish. A case that hits close to home for them all, while they are all dealing with problems at home. These characters are so realistic and you really do get to know them well throughout the series. The ending was fantastic and I had no idea how it was going to finish.

I cannot recommend this series more for fans of very dark and messy crime and serial killer stories.

Thanks so much to HQ and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on May 9th

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three in this fabulous thriller series and it had me riveted from page one, Henley and her team Ramouter, Stanford and Eastwood and their boss Pallecia are back at their best, Andrew Streeter has been locked up for twenty five years serving five life sentences for five murders, now he has just been exonerated and Henley and her team must investigate how he was charged and found guilty in the first place, was there police corruption and was it their old boss and friend Rhimes?

Twenty five years ago the cold blooded killer abducted, raped and tortured four women and then abducted and tortured a male before burying them alive then returning their bodies close to their homes with their eyes and mouth sewn up with a coin in their mouths, now just as Andrew Streeter is about to be set free he is found dead in his hospital bed and what’s more there are more murders and another kill list, will Henley get the real killer before there are more murders and uncover the truth of what happened all those years ago?

This case is very hard on Henley for a lot of reasons, and time is running out, the pressure is on, as the team dig deep into the past and keep up with what is happening now, again I loved this one it is dark and menacing as the team gets closer to the murderer and uncover things from the past which I am hoping will lead to book four in this series, I thoroughly enjoy that this writer brings the teams personal lives into the story this lets the reader get to know them all really well.

I do highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a good thriller one that will keep you turning the pages to get to the truth, well written, edge of your seat stuff, one not to be missed.

[Danielle-Gemma💜 · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far my favourite book of the series and it’s definitely teed up nicely for the fourth book to be written and I absolutely can’t wait.

I do feel like you needed to have read the other books in the series for this to make the story better and more cohesive because there is backing from previous books in the series but also important character development that you need in order to fully appreciate the story itself. Although you could read as a standalone I just don’t think the reading experience would be as good.

I’m really looking forward to being able to read the next in the series whenever it comes out and continuing to love my challenge to read more series this year!

[Lynsey (To read or not to read… definitely read!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enthralling, immersive, with many murders

This is the third in the DI Anjelica Henley series and we are back with the Serial Crimes Unit and Henley’s colleagues. It does make reference to the previous two books, but this can be equally read as a standalone.

The story merges past with present as Andrew Streeter, a convicted serial murderer, is released from prison and his conviction squashed. There are allegations of corruption and inconsistencies with the original police investigation and the SCU is put into the spotlight. Henley is put in charge of the re-investigation of these five murders, as well as their current cases, some with concerning similarities to the historical murders. In addition, she is keen to prove that her previous boss and friend, DCI Harry Rhimes, is not as he is being portrayed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this crime story and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. There was plenty of detail in the murders to give you pause, rather than nightmares. I also enjoyed the relationship between Henley and her boss, DSI Stephen Pellacia. For me this worked well and kept the reader invested.

Well recommended.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kill List is the third book in Nadine Matheson's series featuring tenacious and gutsy London Detective Inspector Anjelica Henley and her colleagues in the Serial Crimes Unit of the MET Police. It's one of my favourite current series, with great plots, well-developed characters and an evocative setting on the south bank of the Thames around Deptford. And as the Goodreads figures confirm, readers like me agree that the series is just getting better and better with each new instalment.

The Kill List draws the Serial Crimes Unit (SCU) into an investigation that has personal overtones for many of them, and particularly for D.I. Henley. Imprisoned serial killer Andrew Streeter's conviction is overturned by the UK Criminal Cases Review Commission, after serious irregularities are uncovered in the original investigation, which took place 25 years previously. The reputation of the Unit's former DCI, the late Harry Rhimes, is dragged through the mud as he's slated in the press and by police hierarchy as the man responsible for the miscarriage of justice. Not only that, but the first of Streeter's supposed five victims was then 15-year-old Henley's best friend, Melissa Gyimah. Henley discovered Gyimah's body on the muddy banks of the Thames near Borthwick Street, gave evidence at Streeter's 1996 trial, and was inspired to join the police following her experiences.

Before he can be released from custody, Streeter is murdered in the prison hospital, and soon after the solicitor representing him is abducted from his practice. It seems that someone doesn't want Streeter to have the opportunity to tell what he knows about the decades-0ld crimes. Curiously, the SCU, including D.I. Henley are drafted to conduct a reinvestigation of the crimes attributed to Streeter and DCI Rhimes' actions at the time. In real life, the past colleagues of a disgraced cop would never be allowed to take part in an investigation of corruption, and nor would a police officer with such a close personal connection to the victim of a murder be permitted to participate in the reinvestigation of the crime. But this is fiction, so we'll roll with it...

As others connected to Streeter and his supposed crimes begin to go missing, the SCU make a chilling connection between these events and the historical series of crimes. The current killer is naming individuals as he targets and dispatches them, on an evolving "Kill List", copies of which are left for police investigators to find at each successive crime scene.

It's a race against time for Henley and her colleagues, as a determined villain attempts to stay one step ahead, whilst continually taunting them with his crimes. Can they catch the wily killer and at the same time vindicate the reputation of their much-respected former boss?

The pacing of The Kill List was excellent, mirroring the undulating nature of the investigation, with periods of suspense and discussion punctuated by dramatic developments. The characters are well-developed and three-dimensional, especially D.I. Henley and her offsider D.S. Salim Ramouter. Both face significant challenges to their police careers emanating from the circumstances of their personal lives. Anjelica's marriage has been on the rocks since the series began, her husband Rob resenting the emotional commitment and odd hours that her police job entails. Meanwhile, Salim's wife - who is suffering the early stages of early-onset dementia - and young son have recently moved down from Bradford to London to live with him.

I raced through The Kill List and can't recommend it highly enough to readers who enjoy gritty, character-driven crime thrillers.

[Alan Cotterell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new author for me, although I see this is the 3rd book in the series.

Quite a few characters to invest in, but it works well as quite often you only get to know about one of the detectives. I loved the pretext of this book and it was well executed with the story going back and forth over 25 years and the different narrators. It got a little bit confusing at times, but not too unreadable.

As I said at the start. this is the 3rd book in the series, I don't think i was too disadvantaged to start with book 3. I think I will go back and read the previous 2 and possibly others after it. ,This wasn't a great book, but definitely not a bad one either. I rate as an 4 Stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

[Kurryreads (Kerry) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars - Thank you to HTP for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Like the previous books, this one follows the ins and outs of a serial unaliver investigation and weaves in drama from Henley’s personal life. While managing her marriage as well as being a parent, the tension throughout is high. The books in this series always remind me of an episode of law and order. I will say I was not at all in the mood for a police investigation style thriller when I picked this up and also due to its length (400 pages), I found it difficult to just sit down and get through it even though the storyline and the writing were just as well done as the first 2 books in the series. Overall I think if you’ve read and enjoyed the first two books you’ll like this one too. I liked it slightly more than the second book but slightly less than the first

Video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNXyTS7A/

[myreadingescapism · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1996, Andrew Streeter insisted he hadn’t committed the five brutal murders he was charged with. In the present day, new evidence shows that the previous officers did a sloppy job investigating and that the real killer is still on the loose with a new kill list. DI Henley must put any personal feelings aside while she re-opens the murder cases.

Overall, this was a murder mystery that I did not want to put down. It was engaging and a quick read, but I do think some of the information about the DI’s life/marriage didn’t add anything to the story.

Many thanks to Net Galley and HQ for this ARC.

[LaToya Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Can’t wait for the next one!

[Judefire33 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review –

Huge thanks to HQ Stories for sending me an early copy of The Kill List to read and review.

I absolutely love Nadine Matheson, she is a massive talent in crime fiction, and I liken her to ‘The British Chris Carter’, her books are totally gripping and gorey, and the DI Anjelica Henley series is just magnificent! If you haven’t heard of Nadine Matheson – where have you been – and if you haven’t read her books, you MUST! If I tell you that The Jigsaw Man has a paragraph that has stayed in my head since reading it 4 years ago, and put me off sausages for life! She is an enormous talent and in book 3 of the series, The Kill List we see her hone her writing skills and really get into her stride.

The Kill List is a tense and gripping read that not only focuses on the team at SCU in their hunt for the killer, it also focuses on the staff and their lives away from working in such a tough environment. I love that we get to see the human side of our lead characters and how a job such as theirs really impacts their relationships and home life, I found this to be moving and very real to life.

I’m not going to give anything away about the plot, but I will say there are gorey crime scenes ( hooray!) there’s a historical case that means the team led by D I Anjelica Henley has to investigate crimes from the present and also re-investigate crimes from the 1990’s. And what a plot The Kill List has, it kept me guessing right to the reveal at the end, and it was SO blooming tense! I really couldn’t put it down. An absolutely sensational novel and the best in the series yet.

A huge 5-star read from me, and even though I’ve just finished The Kill List, book 3, I can’t wait for book 4.! And where are the TV companies because this series is just made to be transferred to TV! Well done Nadine!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another brilliant book in the Serial Crimes Unit series, this time featuring a historic case that’s come under scrutiny when a serial killer wins his appeal leading to fears that the teams former boss could have been guilty of corruption, something none of them can comprehend. I couldn’t fully remember the dynamics between the team members, for me a bit of character biography at the stat might have helped however the actual story was dynamite. Seeing the team struggle to investigate new crimes that link to the historic case as well as investigating the potential of corruption in the original case means there’s no shortage of action and also emotion as it takes it toll on the team. The murders are grisly, the characters are really well written and there’s a real feeling of humanity amongst the team. This was a real page turner and I’m really intrigued at what Henley will do next.

[sophhhhh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

i am so sad i didnt love this! i absolutely adored book 1 (5 stars) and book 2 was up there as well (4.5 stars) but this just didn’t feel the same. i felt that the first 50% were very slow and not very focused on the main case they were trying to solve and then when it did get solved it was super rushed. it felt like a random character was chosen and then that was that and bam book done??? idk this made me sad bc i was super excited but let’s just hope book 4 is better:)))

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kill List by Nadine Matheson is the third in the Detective Inspector Anjelica Henley series.


WOW, this was really good.  With each book in this series, the author gets better.

The characters get deeper with each book, and they all interact realistically.  Anjelica's team work well, and create a very good "family" dynamic.

Although Rob portrays a hurt husband, he does have some points.  Anjelica's job does make the  marriage difficult, so part of me thinks she should be on her own, or with Stephen, who does love her.  However,  then she'll have to give up the team, as they won't be able to work together.  Then there's the bigger issue -  she has a daughter,  who I fear Rob will want to parent, as she is too busy.  So I'm still on the fence whether Anjelica and Rob should be together. I'm hoping this will be finalized in the next book. I can't believe I'm getting sucked into this part of the novel.

The plot was really interesting, and there were a lot of characters/suspects.  The fact that they had to investigate their old boss was really interesting.  However, sometimes I got confused as to what decade a character belonged.  If you have to stop and really think about who this person is, it distracts from the story.

Bottom line, I enjoyed this book, and although this wasn't perfect, the books are getting better all the time so I'm looking forward to book 4!

Anyway, until next time....  

i
For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, and its author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off I've got to mention the cover! Not only is it totally eye catching but it actually relates to the story which I've found to be quite rare! Massive round of applause. (Not the cover shown here 🙄)

I absolutely LOVED the first two books in this series so to recieve #3 in my inbox was a very welcome surprise. The Jigsaw Man is definitely up there in my top ten books ever so I'll admit I had high expectations... and I wasn't disappointed.

Twenty five years ago Andrew Streeter, dubbed The Burier by local journalist Lillian Klien, was convicted of the gruesome murders of 5 people. He always protested his innocence but has now fought his case and with new DNA has been exonerated but on the night of his victory, he is murdered.

DI Henley is tasked with finding the 'real' killer who seems to once again started up their killing spree. In the throat of one victim they find a laminated 'Kill List', will they find out who these potential victims are before it's too late?

On opening up this cold case, Henley and her SCU team are also tasked with investigating their old boss Rhimes for corruption. No-one believes he had it in him and without being able to question him after his suicide they have to dig deep and put aside personal feelings, which Henley is struggling with.

As well as the two main plots there are also a handful of sub plots that are expertly weaved into the story including Ramoiters home life, dealing with his wife's early onset dementia and Henley's home life that seems to be crumbling around her.

Whilst I didnt find book #3 as vividly gory as the previous 2, that doesn't take away just what an amazingly talented writer the author is. Nadine has this knack of building up a story in such a way that it sucks you right in. The pace never let's up and the ending wasn't at all predictable.

Twists and turns that through me around like a waltzer ✔
Unputdownable ✔
Relatable characters ✔
What more would you want?

I would highly recommend reading the first two books in the Inspector Henley series as there is a backstory that follows through all 3 and it will also give you more insight into the characters!

Huge thanks to netgalley and HQ for the ARC.

[hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd instalment with another intense and chilling investigation plot with DI Anjelica Henley. Following the backstory to the infamous serial killer, Andrew Streeter from 26 years ago, the plot traversed in between Henley’s past during the murder of her bestfriend, Melissa who was one of the victims from Streeter’s kill list to present-day timeline when Streeter requesting a review to his five counts of murder claiming that it was a miscarriage of justice. It gets more tangled when a corruption rumour emerged about the late DCS Rhimes making Henley and her team to reopen the case and to make matters worse, a series of murders now happening with a new kill list out hunting for its new victims.

So crisp and utterly engaging esp on the procedural part; loving how most of the setting was still at the SCU making it more interesting and purely thrilling for me. Fav scenes for Henley and her teammates; the banters, wits and concerns as well those familial and friendship drama adding more engaging lifelike fillers to the whole investigation progress; of flaws and outlook on how these detectives having to balance their priorities both in lives and job. Same old bureaucratic and office politics with Lillian Klein’s view on the press part; her narrative triggered me like how can you be too selfish(?), she surely deserved those gaslighting from Henley!

Spooky perspective from the real killer in between but it gripped me to learn on his motivation and the brutal ingenious part of his plan. Puzzling, bit psychological and tricky but loving how twisty the catching game goes (ps: murder scenes can be quite graphic) until the end. An absolute tense and well-plotted whodunnit thriller overall, having dark emotional ending but loving how it uncovered the truth about Rhimes with that cliffhanger and hint for the next instalment.

Ramouter: “People change.”
Henley: “Yeah, they do. Or sometimes they’re very good at hiding who they really are.”

(Thank you Times Reads for the gifted review copy!)

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this 10 ⭐️ if I could. The story builds at a great pace, you question everything. All the characters in SCU are gaining depth book by book, rather than just the lead. You feel as though you are getting to know a family. Fantastic read, so much so I sat and read the last quarter in one sitting.

[Natalie Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4.5

[Karen Chong · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 / 5

Matheson has done it again, I’ve been waiting a long time to get my hands on this book, it’s intense, grilling and thrilling enough for me to finish the book in one day. I’ve been invested in the series since the Jigsaw man, and I am even more invested for her next book to come out. The bar and quality is getting raised higher and higher.

Angelica Henley is back with her team in the Serial crimes unit in London. Her old boss DCI Harry Rhine’s had arrested Andrew stretcher for the brutal murder of five young people, where a ‘kill list’ was found and subsequently convicted of his crimes. 25 years later, Streeters convictions are overturned with evidence suggesting the original investigation failed to review over key information ( with new information coming out). Then the killings starts up and return again, where Henley and her team are up against time to catch the culprit.

It’s dark, it’s graphic but not too gory- but it had me on the edge of the seat the entire time. This book consumed my thoughts and only stopped after I finished the book. This is a true page turner, the plot is well thought out and executed. One aspect that we gain more insight on are the personal lives of the team and the struggle they face, it the plot feel more real and relatable in particular Henley’s private life and Ramounter’s life as well. I also like how direction of thhe story line, figuring abit more in to the life of DCI Harry Rhine’s and his life before his tragic suicide. Overall this is an enthralling read, if you want something similar to the Chris carter series this is definitely a book and series to be invested in!

[Bella Azam · Rating 3 out of 5]

25 years ago, the town was shocked by a series of serial killings towards young girls & a man committed by a heinous criminal nicknamed The Burier. Andrew Streeter was caught & accused of the killings so he has been in the jail for the crimes. But after 25 years had passed, Andrew appealed to the Court stating he is innocent as now he is in his deathbed due to cancer. Detective Inspector Anjelica Henley worked in Serial Crime Unit was previously the crucial witness to the case as her best friend was killed by The Burier so dredging the case again was both traumatizing & bound to unburied potential corruption may be done by her superior & respected mentor, Detective Rhimes, the investigating officer for the case. Then, more killings start to appear with new kill list & eeriely similar MO which shooked the town of the real serial killer may still be on the loose

Crime thriller is my guilty pleasure. Sometimes I just love reading thriller books because I love the investigation aspects of the crime and how they solve them by getting pieces of evidence throughout their interrogation & finding clues. In this case, I enjoyed the aspect of proving the case from the past by looking at different perspectives, combing through what potentially a flawed & tampered investigation to accuse another person in a crime. Henley had her own shares of problems at home, along with her partner, Det. Ramouter with his wife declining health of early dementia. The topics of parenthood was brought up several times in the story just showing how one's career in the police force take away a lot of their responsibilities at home. The killings were pretty brutal and gory with some graphic MO and the reveal of the killer was in the end a bit lacklustre. I wished we get more exploration on the motive of killing but serial killers motive can never be justified as they had some wicked notions & self thought process border on nihilism & evilness with their monstrosity desire. The pacing was good, the plot progressed quickly, its easy to read but nothing memorable. Overall, a pleasant read to indulge in crime thriller just to pass time

Thank you to Times Reads for the review copy.

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS - I've been a fan of Nadine Matheson's Detective Inspector Anjelica Henley series from day one. From The Jigsaw Man to The Binding Room and now this third installment, Matheson has created a tense police procedural/thriller series that brings readers into the brutal crimes of London and into the personal lives of DI Henley and her team.

In The Kill List, Henley is forced to investigate a cold case from the 1990's after the courts decide to overturn the conviction of a man who was convicted of brutally murdering several people. When rumours start swirling about the team's respected (now deceased) former boss Rhimes' potential corruption of the original case, it becomes even more personal for Henley (who has her own connection to the original crime) and her team.

The story starts off dark (a warning to the squeamish) and there's a lot going on in this story. At times, it felt a bit confusing with the number of characters and old crimes, and readers will have to suspend disbelief with how involved Henley is with this case due to her connection to the old crime. But things come together in this police procedural that has crime, corruption, currying favour and a look into the impact of this kind of job on the personal lives of those who solve violent crimes.

This series is a good pick for fans of Robert Dugoni, Jeffrey Deaver and Karen Slaughter.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Hanover Square Press for the complimentary advanced digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

[Books Amongst Friends · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first came across The Jigsaw Man, I had no idea what I was in for—and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. The Binding Room didn’t disappoint, and The Kill List delivered in every way! Nadine Matheson has a way of capturing the reality of her characters so vividly. Every character’s voice carries purpose, without overshadowing others or detracting from the overall story.

I love how Matheson drops you right where the last book left off. This is a series where I highly recommend reading the first two books before diving into this one. Though Matheson transports you seamlessly into these characters' lives and cases, and it feels so real, like you’re working alongside them.

This book picks up from where the last one ended, focusing on the alleged crimes of DI Henley’s old boss, Rhimes. If you’ve read the first two books, like me, you’ve been waiting to uncover whether Rhimes is dirty or not. As the pieces come together, everything unravels, revealing Rhimes’ hidden history and controversial involvement in the case, while also showing how Henley’s career was shaped by this man.

Every time I read one of Matheson’s books, it feels like I’m watching the story play out on my TV—her writing is casually that immersive. I also appreciate how she captures the balance between work life and personal life, showing the toll it takes on Henley and her partner Ramouter, not just as detectives but as spouses and parents. It’s easy to get caught up in the cat-and-mouse chase to find the killer, but Matheson reminds us of the real danger these characters bring home to their families.

This book felt more raw and emotional than the others, as Henley’s connection to the case is deeply personal. The crimes span both past and present, and Henley’s team is tasked with uncovering the truth about their now-dead boss and his biggest cases. Henley is forced to confront the possibility that Rhimes may have knowingly put the wrong man in jail. Meeting the killer only complicates things further, leading to a whirlwind of discoveries that will either clear Rhimes’ name or confirm his guilt.

What I loved most is how Matheson gives us glimpses into the killer’s mind, making us feel as though we know more than the detectives—only to flip the script and leave us in the dark. You think you have it figured out, but you really don’t! Once again, Matheson does an amazing job keeping readers hooked right up until the very end.

I can’t wait for the next book in the series! All I can say is Henley and Rob better be done by then lol.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik heb me uitstekend vermaakt, spannend en kon niet wachten om uit te vinden hoe het verhaal in elkaar zat. Leest lekker weg, en het gebruik van Britse slang laat de Londense sferen nog beter overkomen. Ik denk niet dat ik eerder een boek heb gelezen waar zo vaak guv en bloody hell in werden gebruikt. Grootste angst is nu om levend begraven te worden. Minpunten voor de hoofdpersoon die vreemdgaat met de teambaas. Ik zeg het niet graag, maar haar man heeft een punt. Het einde was wel voorspelbaar, maar dat hoort ook een beetje bij een thriller van £4.

[chloe w. 🧸🫧🪩📖 · Rating 5 out of 5]

she does it again!!!! i honestly have no bad things to say about the Anjelica Henley series so far. really hoping that Matheson is working on book four as i type this cause i need it ASAP!!! i will miss Henley & her crew until the next installment drops 🥲🫶🏾

[Bookaholic Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @netgalley for an ARC of The Kill List by Nadine Matheson, in exchange for my honest review.

The Kill List is the third book in a series that follows Detective Inspector Henley and a Serial Crime Unit. This book can be a standalone but if you are able to read the other two books first, I would definitely recommend it. It will allow you to get to know the relationships between those in the unit better and understand their backstories. I did like the personal connection this story had with Henley, and it helped to understand her better. While this particular story is wrapped up by the end, there is a new mystery woven into the end of the book, which will make you want to read the next book in the series. Definitely recommend The Kill List for anyone who enjoys suspenseful mysteries and doesn’t mind gruesome murders.

[kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this felt like a criminal minds episode